What does everyone think of them, general opinions? I think they're the greatest band of all time, and while I'm not surprised the unwashed American Idol masses ignore them, I do find it odd that they seem generally underrated even within the music intelligentsia.
I mean, I know they make pop music and all, but they're no Madonna or Rihanna. Their songwriting skills are amazing, they're capable of such subtlety but they can switch to catchy disco stompers in a heartbeat.
I also can't think of a band that has a comparable back catalogue, consistency is the key here. They're relatively prolific, and have done such a variety of things, and yet they've never really had a dud album they way any band you want to list has. While they've had nowhere near the cultural impact The Beatles had, they win in many categories in comparison: consistency and longevity chief among them.
Let's see, 10 albums in 25 years. They average 6-8 b-sides each album, and their b-sides could be other band's singles. They've scored a musical, a silent film, and a ballet. Their cover of an obscure Village People song became the song of football. The Ivor Novello Awards said West End Girls was the greatest song written between 1985-1994. They've collaborated with, oh, David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, Elton John, Lisa Minnelli, Bernard Sumner, Johnny Marr, Kylie Minogue, Blur, Tina Turner, Suede, Tracey Thorn, Rufus Wainwright, Robbie Williams, Yoko Ono... They remix, they produce.
But mostly its the albums. Put on some headphones and listen to their two 'worst' albums "Nightlife" and "Release" and you'd be struck by the production values and how sophisticated and complex the songs are. There's always so much going on in a PSB track, I always think one of their songs is worth two of Bob Dylan's or Bruce Springsteen's, because they cram so many instruments and melodies in. Very dense songs and the more you listen to them the more sounds you realized you missed previously.
This masterpiece was written 28 years after their formation, seriously impressive. What little decline in quality, honestly. Music acts don't age like wine, they just don't, PSB are seemingly the exception.
What does everyone think of them, general opinions? I think they're the greatest band of all time, and while I'm not surprised the unwashed American Idol masses ignore them, I do find it odd that they seem generally underrated even within the music intelligentsia.
Ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Me and my friend used to joke about how someone, somewhere was probably the most pompous, condescending Foreigner fan in the world. Like, someone who would be like "CLEARLY you don't understand the emotional subtext of 'Head Games'" or "Oh, you don't like 'Cold as Ice'? It's okay, I mean, this music isn't for EVERYBODY". I think I've just found the next closest/most ridiculous thing.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I like '80s pop and Pet Shop Boys are kinda fun in that regard, though not even the best in that category, but comparing them to the fucking Beatles? Calm down, dude. _________________ I love all music. It makes you feel like living. Silence is death.
I am a devoted admirer. My favourite PSB song is "Being Boring", out of Behaviour, my favorite PSB album.
Absolutely, you picked the best song and the best album. Pop perfection.
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Me and my friend used to joke about how someone, somewhere was probably the most pompous, condescending Foreigner fan in the world. Like, someone who would be like "CLEARLY you don't understand the emotional subtext of 'Head Games'" or "Oh, you don't like 'Cold as Ice'? It's okay, I mean, this music isn't for EVERYBODY". I think I've just found the next closest/most ridiculous thing.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I like '80s pop and Pet Shop Boys are kinda fun in that regard, though not even the best in that category, but comparing them to the fucking Beatles? Calm down, dude.
If you think PSB are on the level of Foreigner there's not much I can say, and they're hardly an 80's band. This is a case of you having a strong opinion on something you know little about. At least I've listened to all The Beatles output and all the PSB's output so its not a stab in the dark on my part.
Those videos I posted, I know I'm not wrong when I say those are top top shelf. I at least put a little thought into an argument, you just laugh and call them 80's, and this is what continues to astound me. I would think their songs would make you see past the label they've been given, but apparently not.
No, believe me, I've heard Pet Shop Boys songs, and the next time I think to myself "I want to listen to New Order, but I ALSO want to seduce a lot of gay men" I'll be sure to put Actually on my car stereo, drive through the Castro and have a grand old time. Until then, I guess all I can say is don't ask for opinions on your favorite band if you don't want to hear anything negative. _________________ I love all music. It makes you feel like living. Silence is death.
Oh, that wasn't a joke-I'm bisexual and scientists have done tests that prove the music of Pet Shop Boys is second only to a neon "FREE MIMOSAS 10-11 PM ONLY" sign as an aphrodisiac for gay dudes, so in that regard Pet Shop Boys are almost as good as Al Green in terms of helping my sex life. Of course Al Green doesn't go as well with cocaine, so maybe they're even BETTER! _________________ I love all music. It makes you feel like living. Silence is death.
Oh, that wasn't a joke-I'm bisexual and scientists have done tests that prove the music of Pet Shop Boys is second only to a neon "FREE MIMOSAS 10-11 PM ONLY" sign as an aphrodisiac for gay dudes, so in that regard Pet Shop Boys are almost as good as Al Green in terms of helping my sex life. Of course Al Green doesn't go as well with cocaine, so maybe they're even BETTER!
Now that you mention it, Pet Shop Boys does sound pretty sexy don't get me wrong they are a pretty good new wave band. _________________ sig
Last edited by mooseboy101 on 04/25/2011 05:11; edited 1 time in total
Are you trying to convert everyone to the Pet Shop Boys fan club?
I don't like them, personally. It's nice that you have a bonified favorite band, but everyone has seperate tastes, and making everyone agree with you is never going to happen.
for me, they hit pop perfection on Please (my favourite of theirs). I saw PSB in concert in the mid-80s and followed their albums as far as Introspective before they matured their sound and lost me (or maybe my taste changed, or a combination of both).
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don't get me wrong they are a pretty good new wave band.
